Has anyone other than me ever been driving the interstate and not known which direction you’re going? You’re headed towards your destination but you’re just listening to directions from your phone. You really don’t know if you’re headed east, west or southeast for that matter. You’re just going! The Lord brought to my attention that we do that in life too. We’re just living life! A lot of the time, we have no idea which way we’re going. We’re just going. That actually can be a dangerous way to live. If we’re relying on our own wisdom or the unwise counsel of others for direction, we’re bound to make wrong choices that are going to end up face planting us. If we’re getting our information from unwise horizontal sources rather than our all knowing Creator, watch out!
We don’t realize it, but we’re all in a quest to stay vertical. What I mean is we’re challenged every day to look out or look up for vital direction and decision making. There’s so many sources out there telling you to go for it! It’s all about you! You’re number one! You know the lingo. A good source to give directions is always going to point up. Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14 NKJV). God is showing us His way in this verse. There is safety when wise people advise you. Also, “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” (2 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV) There is Godly counsel when two or three sources confirm with you what the Lord is saying. But, it’s all about Him! We look up first, then if we ask Him for confirmation, He will use godly sources to help you in your decision making process. Every decision that we make has an outcome. Instead of having to clean up a major mess, get your information from the Lord to start with. Stay out of backtrack mode and get on with your life!
Jesus knows the best path for your life! And this path includes Him! He wants to traverse the hills and valleys of life with you. We are the sheep, He is the Shepherd. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. (Psalms 23:1, 3 NKJV) See that? He leads me! I’m not all over the place scattered and confused with me at the wheel. He leads in the paths of right living. No clean up involved (but only if I ask Him). Life is too tough and too risky to keep our eyes only at horizontal level. We have to get a vertical perspective. But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head (Psalms 3:3 NKJV). When He lifts our heads, He’s lifting our eyes towards Him. There’s a reason for that visual. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalms 121:2 NLT) He wants us to get into a life pattern of doing this first. When we’re facing any major decision, the first place we should run to is Him. There’s other well meaning sources from which to draw information but which of these know your future? Which of these have your best interest in mind? Who is your Maker? Exactly!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) This is a guarantee! He knows. But do we want it His way or our way? I’m not smart enough to create a plan of certainty for my future. I want His way. This is what we should all want. Who better to give direction than an all knowing, all loving God of the universe? So, I encourage you when facing a directional challenge, look up! He holds your present and your future! Only a sovereign God knows all things. Trust Him with your plans. Trust Him with your life. He is the only One who can keep you upright on this quest to stay vertical.
Today’s guest writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.
